Blood Supply of Brain and Spinal Cord
Lecture: 17
Dr. Fahim Haider Jafari
PhD
Learning Objectives
 Enumerate arterial supply of brain
 Explain division of arterial system in carotid and vertebral
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systems
Enumerate branches of carotid and intervertebral arteries
Explain circle of Willis and identify arterial supply of specific
brain areas
Enumerate veins of brain and spinal cord
Identify clinical application
Circle of Willis
Arterial Supply of Brain
 The brain receives blood from two sources: the internal carotid
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arteries, which arise at the point in the neck where the common
carotid arteries bifurcate, and the vertebral arteries
The internal carotid arteries branch to form, the anterior and middle
cerebral arteries
The right and left vertebral arteries come together at the level of the
pons on the ventral surface of the brainstem to form the midline
basilar artery
The basilar artery joins the blood supply from the internal carotids in an
arterial ring at the base of the brain (in the vicinity of the hypothalamus
and cerebral peduncles) called the circle of Willis
The posterior cerebral arteries arise at this confluence, as do two
small bridging arteries, the anterior and posterior
communicating arteries
Physiological Significance
 The arrangement of the brain's arteries into the Circle of
Willis creates collaterals in the cerebral circulation
 If one part of the circle becomes blocked or narrowed
(stenosed) or one of the arteries supplying the circle is
blocked or narrowed, blood flow from the other blood
vessels can often preserve the cerebral perfusion well enough
to avoid the symptoms of ischemia
Internal Carotid Artery
 Arises from common carotid
artery in the neck, entering head
at skull base via the carotid canal,
and terminates at bifurcation into
the anterior cerebral artery and
middle cerebral artery
 The extracranial segment of the
ICA is from the origin of the ICA
to the skull base
 The intracranial segment of the
ICA is divided into petrous,
cavernous, supraclinoid portions
Internal Carotid Artery
 Upon exiting the cavernous sinus, the ICA extends through
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the meninges to become the supraclinoid segment
The supraclinoid or cerebral ICA bends posteriorly and
laterally between the oculomotor (III) and optic (II) nerves
Branches:
to the superior hypophyseal perforators to the anterior
pituitary and stalk
posterior communicating artery (PCoA)
anterior choroidal artery (AChA)
bifurcating into the ACA and MCA
Arterial Supply of Brain
 The major branches that arise from the
internal carotid artery—the anterior and
middle cerebral arteries—form the
anterior circulation that supplies the
forebrain
 Each gives rise to branches that supply
the cortex and branches that penetrate
the basal surface of the brain, supplying
deep structures such as the basal ganglia,
thalamus, and internal capsule
 Particularly prominent are the
lenticulostriate arteries that branch from
the middle cerebral artery
 These arteries supply the basal ganglia
and thalamus
Vertebral arteries
 They branch from the
subclavian arteries
 Enter deep to the transverse
process of the level of the C6
 Then proceed superiorly, in
the transverse foramen of
each cervical vertebra until
C1
 At the C1 level, the vertebral
arteries travel across the
posterior arch of the atlas
through the suboccipital
triangle before entering the
foramen magnum
Vertebral arteries
 Inside the skull, the two
vertebral arteries join up to
form the basilar artery at the
base of the medulla oblongata
 The basilar artery is the main
blood supply to the brainstem
and connects to the Circle of
Willis to potentially supply
the rest of the brain if there is
compromise to one of the
carotids
Arterial Supply of Brain
 The posterior circulation of
the brain supplies the posterior
cortex, the midbrain, and the
brainstem
 Comprises arterial branches
arising from the posterior
cerebral, basilar, and
vertebral arteries
 Midline arteries supply medial
structures, lateral arteries
supply the lateral brainstem, and
dorsal-lateral arteries supply
dorsal-lateral brainstem
structures and the cerebellum
Arterial Supply to Brain
Origin of Arteries
 The left and right internal carotid arteries arise from the left and
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right common carotid arteries
The posterior communicating artery is given off as a branch of the
internal carotid artery just before it divides into its terminal
branches - the anterior and middle cerebral arteries
The anterior cerebral artery forms the anterolateral portion of the
Circle of Willis, while the middle cerebral artery does not
contribute to the circle
The right and left posterior cerebral arteries arise from the basilar
artery, which is formed by the left and right vertebral arteries
The vertebral arteries arise from the subclavian arteries
The anterior communicating artery connects the two anterior
cerebral arteries and could be said to arise from either the left or
right side
Blood Supply to Cerebellum
 Superior cerebellar artery
(SCA) from basilar artery
 Anterior inferior cerebellar
artery (AICA) from basilar
artery
 Posterior inferior
cerebellar artery (PICA)
from vertebral artery
Blood Supply to Spinal Cord
 The spinal cord is supplied with blood by three arteries that run
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along its length starting in the brain, and many arteries that
approach it through the sides of the spinal column
The three longitudinal arteries are called the anterior spinal
artery, and the right and left posterior spinal arteries
These travel in the subarachnoid space and send branches into
the spinal cord
They form anastamoses via the anterior and posterior
segmental medullary arteries, which enter the spinal cord at
various points along its length
Supply blood upto cervical segments
Blood Supply to Spinal Cord
 Arterial blood supply below the cervical region comes from the
radially arranged posterior and anterior radicular arteries, which
run into spinal cord alongside the dorsal and ventral nerve roots
 These intercostal and lumbar radicular arteries arise from the
aorta, provide major anastomoses and supplement the blood flow
to the spinal cord
 Largest of the anterior radicular arteries is known as the artery of
Adamkiewicz, which usually arises between L1 and L2
 Impaired blood flow through these critical radicular arteries,
especially during surgical procedures that involve abrupt
disruption of blood flow through the aorta for example during
aortic aneursym repair, can result in spinal cord infarction and
paraplegia
Extra-dural Hemorrhage
 It results from injuries of the meningeal arteries or veins
 The most common is the anterior branch of the middle
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meningeal artery
A minor blow to the side of the head result in fracture of the
anteroinferior portion of the parietal bone (pterion)
The intracranial pressure rises. The blood clot exerts local
pressure on the underlying motor area in the precentral gyrus
Blood may pass out through the fracture line to form a soft
swelling under the temporalis muscle
The burr hole through the skull wall should be placed 2.5 to 4
cm above the midpoint of the zygomatic arch to ligate or
plug the torn artery or vein
Sub-dural Hemorrhage
 It results from tearing of the superior cerebral veins at their
entrance into the superior sagittal sinus
 Cause is a blow on the front or back of the head causing
anteroposterior displacement of the brain within the skull
 Blood under low pressure begins to accumulate in the space
between the dura and arachnoid
 Acute symptoms in the form of vomiting due to rise in the
venous pressure may be present. In the chronic form, over a
several months, the small blood clot will attract fluid by
osmosis so a hemorrhagic cyst is formed and gradually
expands produces pressure
Sub-dural Hemorrhage
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
 It results from leakage or
rupture of a congenital
aneurysm on the circle of
Willis
 The sudden symptoms
include severe headache;
stiffness of the neck and
loss of consciousness
 The diagnosis is established
by withdrawing heavily
blood- stained CSF fluid
through a lumbar puncture
( spinal tap )
The areas of the brain affected by stroke
A stroke is the sudden damage or death of cells in a localised area of the brain, due to inadequate blood flow. A
stroke occurs when blood flow is interrupted causing oxygen starvation. A haemorrhage or thrombosis in the
main arteries of the brain can cause this oxygen starvation. The areas of the brain affected by the stroke depend
on the particular artery that is affected: middle cerebral artery (pink); posterior cerebral artery (green); and
anterior cerebral artery (blue).